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Home > News & Columns > Michael P. Neufeld > Essay Contest Winners Named

Essay Contest Winners Named

Why I Love the San Bernardino Mountains

By Michael P. Neufeld
Friday, July 4, 2008

Crestline, CA – Entries in the "Why I Love the San Bernardino Mountains" Essay Contest will be on display along with the accompanying artwork at the San Moritz Lodge in Crestline from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. TODAY.

San Moritz Lodge at Lake Gregory Regional Park (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

The Rim of the World Historical Society and Jim and Doe Huff sponsored the contest. The lead judge was Ron Albright and the organizer Rachelle Norton.

I LOVE THE SAN BERNADINO MOUNTAINS

BY CLAIRE COLLINS - Queen of the Mountains

I love the beauty of the San Bernardino Mountains. I think the tall trees and fragrant flowers are pretty. I love the cool refreshing lakes and skies. Our mountains have amazing wildlife, too.

I love the tall pine trees and oak trees and the fragrant flowers. The outside air smells fresh and new. I love the sound of the crackling noises of the wind in the trees. I love the colors of the yellow "Daffodils," purple ''Lupine" and blue "Verbena" flowers.

We have bears and mountain lions, but we hardly even see them. It is common to see a coyote walking down the street. We see Raccoons, Squirrels, Skunks, and beautiful birds all the time. I love the animals on the mountain and I love living in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Beautiful Deep Creek

By John McLaughlin - King of the Mountains

Mrs. Dosey's 3rd Grade Class

I love the San Bernardino Mountains because of a place called Deep Creek. I like to go to Deep Creek because I like to jump off a rock into the water below. The water in Deep Creek is from the snow that melts. The water is so clear that you can see fish. At deep creek you can see animals like bears, deer, coyotes, birds, and skunks. You can slide off a rock because it's so slick, and the water is running like a river. There are even rattlesnakes. There is even a beach and a lot of rocks there. The sky is blue and clean air. There are four-wheel drive trails and you can fly fish there. That's why I like the San Bernardino Mountains.

I Love the San Bernardino Mountains

By Joe Collins – Primary Prince of the Mountains

The San Bernardino Mountains are my home and I love them for lots of reasons. My family and friends swim at Lake Gregory in the summer time. In the fall the trees turn yellowish brownish and look nice. In the winter we get to play with snow balls and make igloos. In the spring all the flowers pop up and all people have a good time.

Why I Love the San Bernardino Mountains

By Kristin Siewert – 1st Place Intermediate Princess of the Mountains

Hello my name is Kristin Siewert. In 1995 my mom bought a cabin, it was one of the first cabins built in Crestline during the 1920's. I've been going to the cabin since 1999.

I enjoy going to the cabin because the lake is always so much fun. I also like the San Bernardino Mountains because Santa lives here. The holidays are always so much fun because on the 4th of July we always have a big party and I buy lots of things. At Christmas we always go to the tree lighting ceremony. On Labor Day weekend I always look forward to the spaghetti dinner at the church where I was baptized.

In March we always go to Daffodil Hill and I always look forward to Claire's at the outlet stores. That's why I like the San Bernardino Mountains!

The Snowy Mountains

By Andy Jones – 2nd Place Intermediate Prince of the Mountains

Mrs. Dosey's 3rd Grade Class

I love the San Bernardino Mountains because of the snow. I like it because you can have snow ball fights, you get to have no school, and you can have hot chocolate. I also like to build snowmen. I like it when it snows because you can ski, snowboard, sled, and ice skate. You can also start a fire in your house, make snow angels, and you can have fun. I can also have fun in the snow, play in the snow, and relax in the snow.

I like when it snows because you can stay in the snow as long as you want to. The snow is very cold and beautiful. I'm glad I live in the mountains where it snows.

Lake Gregory

By Eric Ruiz – 3rd Place Intermediate Prince of the Mountains

Mrs. Dosey's 3rd Grade Class

I love the San Bernardino Mountains because of the beautiful lakes. My favorite lake is Lake Gregory. The best part of Lake Gregory is when you ride the waterslides. I mostly swim in the lake sometimes. Last Friday I went to the waterslides with my class. It was fun.

Sometimes I run around the lake with my mom and her friend. You can also fish and enjoy the beautiful view. These are some of the many things that you can do at Lake Gregory to have fun. I'm glad that I can go to the lake and the waterslides. I feel like the happiest kid in the mountains.

San Bernardino Mountains

By John Collins – Secondary Prince of the Mountains

I love living in the San Bernardino mountains because I'm able to live my dream and make memories for a life time. I see myself when I'm 60 years old looking back at my life remembering all the fun I had living in Crestline. It's there where I fished like a young boy on an adventure. I skated hard with my friends and chilled at the skate park many afternoons. My winter months were awesome with snowboarding with my buddies. But the most cherished memories are the few times I spent with my dad canoeing and sailing "Lake Gregory."

I love to be free and independent, especially when I take off on my bike and go fishing. With the cool wind blowing in my face and my backpack and my fishing pole I race down to the lake. When I get there I meet up with my friends. "Man" I love sitting in my chair looking at the ripples in the water, waiting for that perfect bite.

I have many memories in this mountain community of "Crestline," where I've enjoyed skating at the skate park with my friends. I could hardly wait to meet up with my friends, so we could push ourselves to the limit and practice our shradacle stunts. One day when I was younger, Mark Jonson (Pro Skater) taught me how to do a kick flip and he was cool enough to skate with me and my friends.

Winter in the San Bernardino mountains is the best time of year for me and my friends. We love the adrenaline rush of snowboarding.

Our favorite run is Geronimo at the top of Bear Mountain. We go to the top of Bear Mountain. I love going to the top of Geronimo because I feel like I'm on top of the world. When I look down at the lake it seems to glisten as the sun reflects on it and the powder sparkles like crystals. I love the stillness and peacefulness of God's Creation.

The most cherished memories I have of the mountain are the few times I spent with my father sailing on Lake Gregory. This was the best time I ever had with my dad. Working as a team we canoed through over hanging trees on the lake like Indians, we both experienced the most beautiful sight of a bald eagle and we saw the sun shining through its red wings, swooping down, diving to snatch a fish with its talons. That day in the mountains is one day I will never forget.

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